Bourne To Kick Start Stetson Soccer

SOCCER - SPORTS

Osceola's Amy Bourne Signed To Help The Hatters Field Their First Women's Soccer Team In The Fall.

April 25, 1993|By Frank Carroll of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Amy Bourne, who lettered four years for Osceola High School's girls soccer program, has accepted a grant-in-aid to Stetson University in DeLand, which next fall embarks upon its inaugural women's soccer season.

''We're happy,'' Stetson coach Bob Wilson said. ''Although we're starting from ground zero, I expect Amy to be an integral part of a young program.''

''Hopefully, I'll get a chance to show my ability,'' Bourne said. ''I think it's a plus that there are no established players who know the ropes that we'll have to beat out. That's one less thing to worry about. Because everyone is new, I expect it will be a team that knows it has to work together very hard if we're going to build a name.''

Starting from scratch is not novel for Bourne, 18, a charter member of Osceola High's 1989 inaugural team.

''Being on the ground floor gets to be pretty exciting,'' she said. ''I remember it was very exciting knowing that I was helping to bring something to life.''

Four years after that first season Bourne will graduate owning school records for single-season (15) and career (48) assists.

A good student (3.0 grade-point average), Bourne also packs a huge supply of energy.

''A good midfielder has to play the entire field the entire game,'' she said. ''I'm constantly running, and it keeps my mind focused on the game.''

''Amy is what I like to call a game breaker,'' said Rob Podeyn, her coach the past three years. ''She can change the complexion of a game with one pass.''

Bourne, who visited Tennessee Wesleyan in Athens and Lynn University in Boca Raton before deciding on Division I Stetson, was most impressed with Stetson.

''The curriculum is exactly what I was looking for, and it's a beautiful campus,'' she said. ''Everyone I talked to said nice things about it. Coach Wilson seemed interested in me as a person rather than someone who had been recommended to him by another coach.''

Wilson, 31, also is no stranger to starting fresh. He is credited with bringing girls soccer to DeLand and Deltona high schools. He also has worked two years as an assistant in Stetson's men's soccer program.

Stetson, a Trans America Athletic Conference member, won't have an easy road once the preseason begins Aug. 17. By NCAA doctrine, 75 percent of the Hatters' schedule must be against Division I competition.

Bourne is typical of the type of students Wilson is looking for to fill out his first roster.

''The first thing I talk about is their educational goals,'' Wilson said. ''At Stetson, if you're not interested in continuing your education, you're pretty much at the wrong school. If all you want to do is play soccer in school, there's another program that's probably better for you.''

There aren't too many to choose from. The University of Central Florida, Florida International, Stetson and Florida Atlantic - which is making the move to Division I - are the only Florida schools in the NCAA's largest classification. There are only four other Florida schools with varsity programs: Lynn, the NAIA national champions, Barry, St. Thomas and West Florida.